I once had the great privilege of sharing an Albany,GA bar with a multi tour combat marine vet of the sandbox. His combat experiences have been featured on the history channel in their combat 360 series. He wasnt an ordinary marine, he was attached to a spec ops group for most of his combat tours. He spent time in both Iraq at the Syrian border and Afghanistan.
His name was Bodette.
Being a former USN gunners mate...and a lifetime firearms enthusiast...I asked his opinion of the colt battle rifle platform....thinking I would hear of it’s fragility in the sandbox amongst other shortcomings I had heard about from Vietnam vets.
Suprisingly...He told me for him...and he had several platforms he could of used other than the m-16/m-4...that the colt battle rifle was his favorite.
I asked why? Wasn’t it high maintenance? Wasn’t the 5.56 a weak round for the distance of engagements in Afghanistan?
He said he liked the smoothness and accuracy it delivered which enabled him to put more rounds on target quicker than his enemy could....especially at distances over 200 yards. He said this was the reason he survived his tours.
I wasnt a big fan...till I met him.
I used many a different weapon during my career in EOD from 72-96. First one I choose available to me in late 72 was an M2 Carbine as Uncle Sugars Wind Force, EOD or not were not high on the list for an M16. Loved it..... had 2 spare 15 round mags in the stock pouch with one 30 round mag in the mag well...... on my belt was 2 of the 4x30 round pouches, an ass pack, 2 canteens, a demo knife,the obligatory first aid pouch with a combat tampon on my H gear and 4 spare mags for my 1911A1.
That was my outside the wire LBE when we got sheep dipped to Army or Navy while TDY for 60 days in VN in 72,
When stationed in NKP in thailand I was issued a XM177 or as wing nut armorers called em ....GAU 5A or GAU 5AA/SMG. Worked great, the few times I fired it in anger. But being very careful to keep all my tools clean and serviceable may have helped. Carried the XM177 till M4’s were issued.
When Desert Storm kicked off I took a M1A with a 10X Leupold on it vs a M4 due my orginal thought that I was gonna have some 800 yard plus targets so M118 special ball was our load. Never a problem. Good Rig.
EOD is also issued the M107 now. Back in Desert Storm it was the M82A1 variant......we mainly used it for SMUD aka small munitions disruption of uxo munitions etc..... We by no means were special operations but we were attached to many spec ops units so we got some really great gear, weapons etc ......
Saw a lot of DRT’s with 5.56 holes in em an not a one looked like they thought the modern issue AR / M16 carbine was a bad tool for general purpose mk 1 mod O grunts and zoomie’s to use .
In a perfect world everyone can have their primary weapon of choice. Until then ....... the M4 is a fine tool when used as intended, augmented by a TACP with a few radios and on call air and artillery support makes all most happy camper .....